Ayden OKs budget with tax, fee increases

The Ayden Board of Commissioners on Monday unanimously approved a 2024-25 budget that maintains the town’s ad valorem tax rate in the face of a countywide increase of property values. The budget also increased electric and other utility rates for municipal customers.

The annual general fund spending plan totals nearly $6.7 million, which is an increase of more than $1 million over the 2023-24 budget of $5.6 million, a spending increase that reflects inflation and a full-time staffing rate of 97 percent, Finance Director Marsha Hall has said.

There was no increase in the property tax rate of 54 cents per $100 value, but the revenue neutral rate was 35 cents per $100 valuation, resulting in an effective rate increase of up to 19 cents.

The revenue neutral rate is an assessment that would more or less maintain what property owners have to paid last fiscal year. Pitt County revalued property this year to ensure tax value was closer to market prices for property. Real property values increased on average by 36 percent countywide.

Hall said that there was only one change to the plan after following the public hearing in May. The change was from $45 an hour charge to a $50 per hour charge to hire police for outside events.

Before approval of the budget Commissioner Brian Newell asked to remove under Water and Sewer a request of $167,000 for equipment under Capital Improvement for a backhoe. The board unanimously approved, and the budget was accepted with that amendment.

In addition to property taxes, residents will pay monthly water and sewer base fee increases of about $1 and rate increases of about 50 cents, according to the budget documents. Electricity rates would increase more than $4 a month and there will be an increase in Sanitation fees by $1 per month from $15 to $16.

In other business, the town received $1.6 million in CDBG-I funding for sewer replacement, which the board unanimously approved after a public hearing. The program will replace sanitary sewer lines on Club Drive east of Northeast College Street and Iola Street.

The board unanimously approved the replacement and removal of sidewalk trees in the downtown area and the brick around them, which has contributed to citizens tripping and falling while walking along the sidewalks.

The board tabled a zoning map amendment for East Domas Development LLC and a recommendation to moving from four utility billing cycles per month to two cycles per month and removing special due dates.

The board unanimously approved an award of construction for sanitary sewer system cleaning/video inspection; scheduled a public hearing in July for the voluntary annexation petition for Eagle Rock Concrete LLC; and adopted a resolution for the town clerk to investigate the voluntary annexation petition of East Ridge Development Corporation.

The board also unanimously approved appointing Commissioner Raymond Langley to the CMSD Board of directors for a four-year term.